Public Safety graduates earn $57,805 four years out. Related careers are growing at up to 21.0%, one of the stronger demand signals across all fields. Information Security Analyst is among the highest-growth roles in the field.
This page covers Public Safety as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Criminal Justice and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Public Safety is a focused area of study within Criminal Justice. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $57,805 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 498 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 8,130 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. Coursework pairs research methods with the applied study of people and institutions.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$39,956
Median Earnings · 4yr
$57,805
Colleges Offering
498
Graduates / Year
8,130
Avg Net Price / yr
$19,350
How Much Do Public Safety Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Public Safety, a typical graduate earns $57,805, near the national median for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $41,536 and $76,538, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $39,956 at one year out to $57,805 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$57,805
4-Year National Median
Near the national median for college graduates.
$57,446
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Public Safety graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out widely, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Degree level and sector drive the gap. Graduate-level government and research roles anchor the top; entry-level social services and nonprofit roles anchor the bottom.
$41,53625th pct.
$57,805Median
$76,53875th pct.
A Solid Financial Return
Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $57,805 and an estimated $77,400 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 2.8 years.
Based on outcomes from 202 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 8,130 students who complete Public Safety programs each year, the majority (48%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
48%28%
Bachelor's48%
Master's28%
Associate's12%
What Can You Do With a Public Safety Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Public Safety graduates show up in 8 different occupations, and Information Security Analyst pays the most at $129,180/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingActive ListeningSpeaking
Day-to-day responsibilities
Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.
Develop plans to safeguard computer files against accidental or unauthorized modification, destruction, or disclosure and to meet emergency data processing needs.
Monitor current reports of computer viruses to determine when to update virus protection systems.
Encrypt data transmissions and erect firewalls to conceal confidential information as it is being transmitted and to keep out tainted digital transfers.
Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.
Direct and participate in formal and informal meetings with bank directors, trustees, senior management, counsels, outside accountants, and consultants to gather information and discuss findings.
Recommend actions to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, or to protect solvency of institutions.
Prepare reports, exhibits, and other supporting schedules that detail an institution's safety and soundness, compliance with laws and regulations, and recommended solutions to questionable financial conditions.
Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision Making
Day-to-day responsibilities
Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.
Prepare detailed reports on audit findings.
Report to management about asset utilization and audit results, and recommend changes in operations and financial activities.
Collect and analyze data to detect deficient controls, duplicated effort, extravagance, fraud, or non-compliance with laws, regulations, and management policies.
Research, study, and prepare maps and other spatial data in digital or graphic form for one or more purposes, such as legal, social, political, educational, and design purposes. May work with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). May design and evaluate algorithms, data structures, and user interfaces for GIS and mapping systems. May collect, analyze, and interpret geographic information provided by geodetic surveys, aerial photographs, and satellite data.
Compile data required for map preparation, including aerial photographs, survey notes, records, reports, and original maps.
Delineate aerial photographic detail, such as control points, hydrography, topography, and cultural features, using precision stereoplotting apparatus or drafting instruments.
Prepare and alter trace maps, charts, tables, detailed drawings, and three-dimensional optical models of terrain using stereoscopic plotting and computer graphics equipment.
Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as criminal law, defensive policing, and investigation techniques.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances. Perform a combination of the following duties: patrol a specific area; direct traffic; issue traffic summonses; investigate accidents; apprehend and arrest suspects, or serve legal processes of courts. Includes police officers working at educational institutions.
Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.
Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.
Collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Perform tests on weapons or substances, such as fiber, hair, and tissue to determine significance to investigation. May testify as expert witnesses on evidence or crime laboratory techniques. May serve as specialists in area of expertise, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, or biochemistry.
Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.
Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.
Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.
Top Colleges for Public Safety
Not sure where to study Public Safety? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Public Safety graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Criminal Justice Programs
Public Safety is not the only path through Criminal Justice: 4 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Public Safety program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
The data on Public Safety shows 4 measurable strengths and 0 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.
PROS
Above-average earningsFour-year median of $57,805 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science programs.
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $39,956 at graduation to $57,805 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Fast-growing fieldRelated careers are projected to grow up to +21.0% over the next decade, with Information Security Analyst among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 198,000 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
Public Safety Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Public Safety graduates earn?
$57,805 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $41,536 and $76,538, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Public Safety degree?
$39,956 in the first year out. That grows to $57,805 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Public Safety degree?
Information Security Analyst is one path, and it pays a median of $129,180 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Public Safety program take?
Four years of full-time study for a Public Safety bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer Public Safety?
498 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Public Safety degree worth it?
$57,805 median earnings four years out against $19,350 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Public Safety and Criminal Justice?
Public Safety is the narrower of the two: Criminal Justice covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Public Safety-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Public Safety graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Public Safety graduates consistently look for research methodology, interpersonal communication, and policy understanding. Experience with surveys, qualitative interviews, or statistical tools is often a differentiator in government, nonprofit, and research roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
What is the job outlook for Public Safety graduates?
Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +7.7% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Information Security Analyst is among the strongest-growth roles at +21.0%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
Related Criminal Justice Programs
Other programs in Criminal Justice. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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